Decorative plant product



R. L. JOHNSTON AND 5. S. WALLNER.

DECORATIVE PLANT PRODUCT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, $92!.

1,405,786. Patented Feb. 7, 1922;

, v .[noavzforgg- UNITED STATES RICHARD LLOYD J'QHNS'ION PATENT OFFICE.

AND JOHN S. WALLNER, OF CHICAGO, ILIlINOIS;

ASSIGNOBS TO BEEGMAN-KOBOP? & 00., INC OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A 003ronlurxon or ILLINOIS.

nmoaamvs PLANT rnonu'c'r.

a lication filed m 26,

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that we, RICHARD Lwrn JOHNSTON and JOHN S. WALLNER, citizensof the United States of America, and residents of Chicago, county ofCook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Decorative Plant Products, of which the following is aspecification. V

This invention relates to the decorative arts, and especially to themanufacture of artificial flowers and the like.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a decorative lantproduct of natural growth formed y cutting and trimming certain partsaway and preferably having decorative features) added thereto adaptingit for permanent display and ornamental purposes; and to provide animproved method of cuttin and decorating a lotus seed pod (torusg or thelike 0 natural growth so as to form an artistic plant product simulatinga natural growth of different design and appearance from the lotusplant.

Illustrative embodiments of this invention are shown in the aecompanyi gdrawin s, whereinig. 1 is a perspective view of a matured lotus seedpod, or it ma be said to represent the torus or receptac e of theNelumbium, found in the water-lily family.

Fi 2 is a perspective view of one form of the improved plant product orartificial flower.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view tion, showing alotus seed the top has beencut and all of the seed ockets have been removed, leaving little lintthe shell.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification similar to the form shownin Fig. 2, but having another plant part of flower set in the clippedpod or torus.

The plant growth which is most adapted, and therefore preferable for usein carrying out the present invention, is the Nelumbe of the water-lilyfamily, commonly p known as the American lotus. plant to be treated isharvested in any etc of its after the formation 0 the torus pod or sereceptacle, but the best results are obtained thered or evelopmentSpecification of Letters Patent.

h trated in the embodiment shown in such as a solution of "mater,preferably 1921. swarm. 472,714.

with the plants which have been gathered after the seed pods havereached maturity.

In the specific embodiment here illustrated the lotus mally includesshell or casing 2 ture 3 consistin e usual top-shaped outer and theinterior body strucof sponge-like or woody fibers, is forms mainly bycutting of! the top. The items or receptacle normally'has a perforatedflat upper surface or top part 4, in which there are substantially thesame texture as the she 2. The woody'fiber 3 is normally concealedentirely from view.

In carrying out the perforated top 4 is cut away the line 6-6 of Fig. l,there'b half the seed pockets 5, especia row. The remaining parts ofthen appear in the form of hemispherical cavities.

After the top of the receptacle is cut away, the hemispherical pocketsin the inner part or especially the center of the pod are scraped out aswith a knife or other suitable tool, so as to ex 3. In the speci cembodiment shown in ig. 2, the outer row of seed ockets adjacent totherim of the pod are 1e t in place to simulate petals. In theembodiment shown in Fig. 3, all of the ockets are scra ed out so thatthe outer shel and woody fi rs simulate a poppy. If desired, a.small'ornament or flower 7 such as a dandelion may be fear ten'ed in thecenter of therfibrous part for an additional decorative feature as llus'as shown formed in the Extendin throu h a hole i stem 8 or the bottom 0the p is awillow like.

After the plant has been cut to either of the forms shown in Figs. 2 or3, it may, if desired, be treated with a. preservative glycerine, waterand pod is coated with warm}; :1 fiat oil paint applied so as to giveeither a solid color appearance, or referably a shaded appearance. Acoating of adhesive, preferably in the form of highgrade spar varnish,is then applied by means of a spray brush to protect and ive lusterformalin. The

ed to the flat colors and also to retain the subsequently appliedcolors.

Patented Feb. 7, i922- seed pockets 5 havin present invention, the I thepockets or torus 1, which nor se to view the fibrous art produced byapplying powdered pigment to the part 3 and gockets 5 jwhile the varnishis still wet.

ronze dust, chips, granules, and crystals of various character may alsobe applied to give still more delicate efl'ects. p

The liquid coloring may, as arule, be ap plied best by means of a spraybrush, although the first coat of fiat. coloring may be applied bydigpin the pod" directlyinto a thin paint. on he latter case, the excesspaint may be drained oil by suspendin the plant over a suitable drippan, as w 1'l be understood. The dust pigments, chips, floss Brillianteffects may be and the like my, be dusted ontothe woody fiber 3 andpockets 5 by means of a pepper shaker or in some instances by means of apneumatic fan or blower.

There is great utility of this invention in the decorative artespecially for store win- (low and general interior decorations, stagescenery, landscape and garden effects. The product-is not only chea andeasy to roduce, but is durable'an capable ofmost rich and leasingeffects. i

It will be understood that some of the details of the embodiments shownmay be altered or omitted without de arting'from .the spirit of thisinvention as following claims. i

We claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a seed pod of natural growthhaving portions thereof cut away to produce a. certain predeterminedornamental ap earance, said pod being decorated artificial y 2. Anarticle of manufacture comprising a seed pod of natural growth havingporefined by the i h a tions thereof cut away to produce a certainpredetermined ornamental appearance, said pod beingimpregnated with apreservative and ecorated -artificially to simulate a na'turitli growthhaving a design destinct fromthe appearance of said pod in itsnatural-form.

3. An rticle of manufacture comprising aseed- 0d of natural growthhaving an Outer ll anda plurality of seed pockets arranf {within saidshell, the upper part of saidfishell being cut away to expose andshmv'jtfhe i nner faces of a plurality of said pockets and so producemined-ornamental appearance, said p'od being d. curated artificially tosimulate a natural Erowthhaving a design destinct from the outwardappearance of said pod in its natural form,

4. An article of manufacture comprising a seed pod of natural growthhaving a plurality of seed pockets arranged within an outer shell,certain of said seed pockets and the upper part of said shell bein cutaway to expose to view the interior part of said pod, said pod beingdecorated artificially.

An article of manufacture comprising a lotus seed receptacle of naturalgrowth aving a plurality'df seed pockets in its upper face,'certain ofsaid pockets and the upper part of said rec acle being cutaway to exposeto view the interior part of said receptacle, said seed receptacle beingdecorated artificially.

"Signed at Chicago this 23 day of May, 1921.

RICHARD L. JOHNSTON JOHN s. WALLNEAR.

a certain predeter-

